The List: 21 Nov 1997 (Issue 320)

The new single out now. 001 and CD2 £1.99 each 7"vinyl £0.99 during week of release only.

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Released 24th Nov 12"&cn‘ , , , includes The Herbalizer remix

Ml" 25 Disltibuled by Vilal

48 THE LIST 21 Nov—4 Dec 1997

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Tom and Nikki Tantrum share a common tongue

POP Tantrum

Just over two years ago, Edinburgh band Tantrum sent off their first demo tape to assorted record companies and press. The next day, a major label scout phoned up and gushed about how it was the best thing he had ever heard in his life. Two years on and Tantrum have had two subsequent demo tapes funded by majors and have been courted by seven record labels. Sounds good, huh? However, according to Tantrum’s versions of events, they have been systematically dicked around by every single one of them. Tom Fraser, Tantrum’s guitarist, recalls that ’one guy called us the "unluckiest band in the world” and then did the same as the rest of them

and kept us hanging around endlessly. We sent him a fax calling him a cheesy fuckwit. He didn’t speak to us after that.’

Taking their unusual approach to artist/record company relations a step further, Tantrum then sent another label honcho a pack of Clorets on the basis that his patter stank so badly. Despite these little misunderstandings between Tantrum and the powers that be, things are looking up for the five- piece. They were one of three local bands chosen to support major acts at the Flux new music festival during the Edinburgh Festival. Part of the package was the chance to record 500 CDs, courtesy of Flux and the Scottish Arts Councw

The end result is a three-track EP topped off with sleeves which have been individually painted by Nikki Grant, the lead singer. Grant reckons that their 'first demo was the best thing we've ever done.’ She's wrong; as were all the record companies that didn‘t Sign Tantrum. See, the EP is a beautiful mix of aural atmospherics sliding around one another. It’s the aural equivalent of dreaming with your eyes open or a vivid type of ambient music with a full set of balls.

Ahh, but enough niceties. Does Tantrum Tom have any last words on the subject of record companies? ’Yeah, X (name removed for legal safety) sucks bears.’ Righto. (Jonathan Trew)

a Tantrum’s CD is out now on Floppy Records. While stocks last they are free from Virgin on Princes Street in Edinburgh.

CLASSlCAL New Territories

Glasgow: various venues, from Fri 21 Nov.

Although hardly the most auspicious title for the piece of music which starts the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra's New Territories series, Cascading Ordure holds no significance — as a name that is — for what is to come. As far removed from ordure as it is possible to be is the Scottish premiere of James Maclvlillan's symphony Vigil, premiered only a few weeks ago in London. Equally unshitty is the music of Tan Dun, Associate Composer/Conductor of the orchestra, whose Concerto For Cello receives its UK premiere in the context of new music from New York and who also introduces young Asian composers to audiences in Scotland.

’Tan is the leader of the flowering of composition in Asian countries, particularly the Far East, where composers are now not just writing exotic music,’ says Hugh Macdonald, Director of the BBC SSO. 'There’s a really interesting synthesis between their own culture and Western techniques.’

Although his Chinese roots may deeply influence his work, it is New York that Tan Dun has made his home. 'There's a huge ferment of musical activity there,’ explains Hugh Macdonald, 'and it’s just such a hotbed of contemporary music. In the performance called New York Hot, we thought it would be interesting to do short pieces by different people in New

James MacMillan ventures into New Territories

York to give a real flavour of what’s going on.’

So With several UK premieres by up- and-coming composers, it also gives opportunity to further a shared commitment to the work of young people.

Hailed as such a composer not so long ago was James Maclvlillan, whose biggest, and some say best, orchestral work to date can be heard in the second concert of New Territories Commissioned as part of a trilogy by the LSO, his symphony Vigil is heard alongside Edward McGurre's The Spirit Of Wallace and Britten’s Piano Concerto wrth the orchestra’s Chief Conductor Osmo vanska' And what of Cascading Ordure? Its young Norwegian composer, Jon @iyind Ness, describes it as 'humorous and maybe even voluptuous', so at least it won't be the u5ua| shit (Carol Main)